Coachella 2011: Day 2
Saturday was hot: 99 degrees plus. We slept in, lazed about the house, waited for the heat to crest, and headed off. Once again, it was very easy in, and we tromped our way in.
It was a bit too late to catch Gogol Bordello, so we went to the Gobi Tent to catch The Radio Department. They are a Swedish band, dream pop (http://youtu.be/A1aT8fNBts8). Very pretty, easy to listen to, and nice density to the sound (though not, admittedly, the most challenging music). Still, I have a weakness for this kind of music, since much of its roots go back to the Cocteau Twins. it was also nice to get under a tent and away from the sun for a bit.
From there, it was over to the main stage for Erykah Badu. We have a bit of history with Ms. Badu, as, very early in our relationship, we went to see her at the House of Blues, only to have her go on over two hours late.(!!!) This time, however, she kept it to 15 minutes. The set was just ok, but her voice was in fine form (http://youtu.be/PjsrFdBonoo).
After a quick dinner, we walked over to the Sahara tent just to pass the time until Elbow. We caught about half of Laidback Luke's set. Like Afrojack, Laidback Luke is a Dutch House DJ (with a few dubstep songs thrown in). I liked his set better than Afrojack's though. I felt that there was more variety and that he did a better job building tension and energy (http://youtu.be/bh9dxXOgWzU).
Next was Elbow. Even though they've been around a long while, I only discovered them a couple years ago, and only really started to pay attention to them recently. They're a Mancunian alt-rock band, and I love the lead singer's voice. (http://www.vevo.com/watch/elbow/grounds-for-divorce/GBUV70703073) The musicianship was outstanding, and their performance was top-notch. One of the best sets of Coachella this year, and in the top echelon overall. Oh, and we happened to be standing next to the mixing board, where Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd (Merry and Pippin from LotR) were watching the show:
From there, we caught about 20 minutes of the Shpongle Dj Set at Sahara. Shpongle does tribal house, which I find endlessly listenable when it's done well, as it was here (http://youtu.be/fKdpPThuKvM). Plus, the stage show/visuals were great (and were we rolling, we probably would never have left).
But leave we did, to catch the act I was most excited for in the whole event: Mumford & Sons. I loved what I'd heard on the radio, was blown away buy their Grammy performance, and was astonished by their album. I was apparently not the only one. They were on the main stage, thankfully, as I don't know that I've ever seen as large a crowd for a non-closing act. The artists themselves were blown away, and so charmingly humble in acknowledging how surprised and awed they were by the turnout: "far and away the largest crowd we've ever played to". And they really stepped up (http://youtu.be/gFOWlSCwRDs -- turn up the sound). Such outstanding musicianship, such great songs. They play American/Celtic roots-influenced rock (standard instrumentation: guitar, banjo, stand-up bass, accordion & drums). They played much of their album, and added a few (promising) new songs as well. Truly amazing -- go see them if you get the chance.
Elated, we then made like salmon and swam upstream through the crazy mass of people to catch the 2nd half of the Big Audio Dynamite set. I was a big fan of BAD back in the day, but was a little concerned as to how well they would be holding up (Mick Jones is 55, after all, and his voice was always...distinctive); however, our streak continued -- the music was fabulous. And Tamara, who I wasn't sure would even like them, was bouncing around like crazy to E=MC2, The Bottom Line and Rush. And while Mick still isn't pretty, he gambols about damn well for an old man. And I have a soft spot for any band that does a song about Nicholas Roeg movies (http://youtu.be/cHTDkJ-bQqM)
From there, we headed back to the Sahara tent to see Paul van Dyk, but as we walked past the Mojave tent, we happened to catch the last number of the Swell Season's set; which was, of course, "Falling Slowly", which is a beautiful song, and a great one to hear while you are having a truly magical night with the love of your life. (http://youtu.be/3cXIa3U_jvA) It brings tears of joy to your eyes.
But on to Paul van Dyk. He is a lion of the Electronic music scene. One of the first truly world-famous DJs, and while he's never been a personal favorite, he puts together an excellent set. Just good house music that makes you want to dance. (http://youtu.be/ehIQVXqlZsc).
Finally, tiring, we went over to the Gobi Tent to catch Raphael Saadiq. He was the lead vocalist in Tony Toni Tone', but has since gone off as a solo artist playing R&B and neo-soul (http://youtu.be/ZeKaHBMKows). This is Tamara's favorite genre of music, so she was especially excited (and she thinks he's gorgeous). He had great stage presence, but unfortunately the mixing was off and the sound was really muddy. We ended up leaving before the set was over, but that small disappointment could not dampen our spirits. Musically, this had been one of the best days in our 8 years at Coachella.
An outstanding day made even more so by how easily we we able to get out of the venue, and by how delicious the hot tub, nightcap, etc. were when we got home.
It was a bit too late to catch Gogol Bordello, so we went to the Gobi Tent to catch The Radio Department. They are a Swedish band, dream pop (http://youtu.be/A1aT8fNBts8). Very pretty, easy to listen to, and nice density to the sound (though not, admittedly, the most challenging music). Still, I have a weakness for this kind of music, since much of its roots go back to the Cocteau Twins. it was also nice to get under a tent and away from the sun for a bit.
From there, it was over to the main stage for Erykah Badu. We have a bit of history with Ms. Badu, as, very early in our relationship, we went to see her at the House of Blues, only to have her go on over two hours late.(!!!) This time, however, she kept it to 15 minutes. The set was just ok, but her voice was in fine form (http://youtu.be/PjsrFdBonoo).
After a quick dinner, we walked over to the Sahara tent just to pass the time until Elbow. We caught about half of Laidback Luke's set. Like Afrojack, Laidback Luke is a Dutch House DJ (with a few dubstep songs thrown in). I liked his set better than Afrojack's though. I felt that there was more variety and that he did a better job building tension and energy (http://youtu.be/bh9dxXOgWzU).
Next was Elbow. Even though they've been around a long while, I only discovered them a couple years ago, and only really started to pay attention to them recently. They're a Mancunian alt-rock band, and I love the lead singer's voice. (http://www.vevo.com/watch/elbow/grounds-for-divorce/GBUV70703073) The musicianship was outstanding, and their performance was top-notch. One of the best sets of Coachella this year, and in the top echelon overall. Oh, and we happened to be standing next to the mixing board, where Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd (Merry and Pippin from LotR) were watching the show:
From there, we caught about 20 minutes of the Shpongle Dj Set at Sahara. Shpongle does tribal house, which I find endlessly listenable when it's done well, as it was here (http://youtu.be/fKdpPThuKvM). Plus, the stage show/visuals were great (and were we rolling, we probably would never have left).
But leave we did, to catch the act I was most excited for in the whole event: Mumford & Sons. I loved what I'd heard on the radio, was blown away buy their Grammy performance, and was astonished by their album. I was apparently not the only one. They were on the main stage, thankfully, as I don't know that I've ever seen as large a crowd for a non-closing act. The artists themselves were blown away, and so charmingly humble in acknowledging how surprised and awed they were by the turnout: "far and away the largest crowd we've ever played to". And they really stepped up (http://youtu.be/gFOWlSCwRDs -- turn up the sound). Such outstanding musicianship, such great songs. They play American/Celtic roots-influenced rock (standard instrumentation: guitar, banjo, stand-up bass, accordion & drums). They played much of their album, and added a few (promising) new songs as well. Truly amazing -- go see them if you get the chance.
Elated, we then made like salmon and swam upstream through the crazy mass of people to catch the 2nd half of the Big Audio Dynamite set. I was a big fan of BAD back in the day, but was a little concerned as to how well they would be holding up (Mick Jones is 55, after all, and his voice was always...distinctive); however, our streak continued -- the music was fabulous. And Tamara, who I wasn't sure would even like them, was bouncing around like crazy to E=MC2, The Bottom Line and Rush. And while Mick still isn't pretty, he gambols about damn well for an old man. And I have a soft spot for any band that does a song about Nicholas Roeg movies (http://youtu.be/cHTDkJ-bQqM)
From there, we headed back to the Sahara tent to see Paul van Dyk, but as we walked past the Mojave tent, we happened to catch the last number of the Swell Season's set; which was, of course, "Falling Slowly", which is a beautiful song, and a great one to hear while you are having a truly magical night with the love of your life. (http://youtu.be/3cXIa3U_jvA) It brings tears of joy to your eyes.
But on to Paul van Dyk. He is a lion of the Electronic music scene. One of the first truly world-famous DJs, and while he's never been a personal favorite, he puts together an excellent set. Just good house music that makes you want to dance. (http://youtu.be/ehIQVXqlZsc).
Finally, tiring, we went over to the Gobi Tent to catch Raphael Saadiq. He was the lead vocalist in Tony Toni Tone', but has since gone off as a solo artist playing R&B and neo-soul (http://youtu.be/ZeKaHBMKows). This is Tamara's favorite genre of music, so she was especially excited (and she thinks he's gorgeous). He had great stage presence, but unfortunately the mixing was off and the sound was really muddy. We ended up leaving before the set was over, but that small disappointment could not dampen our spirits. Musically, this had been one of the best days in our 8 years at Coachella.
An outstanding day made even more so by how easily we we able to get out of the venue, and by how delicious the hot tub, nightcap, etc. were when we got home.